OR Technology Consolidates Operations To Accelerate
Development Of 12.7mm LS-120 Floppy Disk Drive
CAMPBELL, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 15, 1997--OR Technology Inc. Wednesday announced that it has consolidated operations in order to accelerate the development of its slim-line a:drive, a 120MB floppy disk drive based on LS-120 technology.
The reorganization streamlines the company's sales and marketing organization worldwide and will enable it to focus freed resources on bringing its 12.7mm product offering to market.
''Along with its development partners, OR Technology has spent the past year successfully developing the channel for LS-120 products. However, OR Technology believes its future hinges on the success of its 12.7mm product offering,'' said Steven Lam, chairman of the board, OR Technology.
''While extensive development has optimized these products for use as integral notebook system components, our slim-line drives easily adapt for desktop computers, servers and modular applications which will be key to meeting the needs for removable storage in emerging consumer
markets.''
OR Technology will consolidate its operations at its facility in Boulder, Colo. where its engineering staff and pilot production line are located. Customers for its one-inch high product will be supported
by licensees during the interim while the slim-line a:drive development is completed. Evaluation samples of this product are available now and production quantities will be available at the beginning of 1998. Kaifa Group, OR Technology's manufacturing partner, will manufacture the slim-line product.
Kaifa Group, with headquarters in the People's Republic of China and offices in Hong Kong, Singapore and the United States, is an expert in the manufacturing of innovative, high quality computer, electronic and telecommunications products. With 1996 revenues forecast to be greater
than $250 million, it is one of the largest computer product companies in mainland China.
OR Technology's a:drive stores up to 120MB on a single LS-120 diskette and is compatible with current 3.5-inch floppy disk technology. It can read and write to both 1.44MB and 720KB diskettes, providing an upward migration path for millions of floppy disk users and the billions of
diskettes they own.
While LS-120 technology was specifically developed to meet the limited space and demanding specifications of the mobile computer market, its unique characteristics provide the flexibility needed to address a broad range of design applications.
In slim-line drives, engineers have optimized capacity and performance while minimizing form factor and power consumption. These models measure 12.7mm high by 96mm wide by 124mm long and operate at low power to maximize battery life.
LS-120 laser servo technology was developed jointly by OR Technology, Compaq Computer Corp. (CPQ), Imation and Matsushita-Kotobuki Electronics Industries Ltd. (MKE) (6783 JP). In addition to these key companies, OR Technology's manufacturing partners include Kaifa Group
(0021 CH), Mitsubishi Electric Corp. (6503 JP) and Maxell Corp.
OR Technology, with headquarters in Campbell, sells, designs and manufactures data storage products using laser servo technology for which it holds significant patents. OR Technology markets the a:drive, a product compatible with current floppy diskettes that stores up to 120MB of data on a single SuperDisk diskette.
For additional information on OR Technology and its products, contact OR Technology, 42 W. Campbell Ave., Campbell, Calif. 95008; toll-free fax back service 888/286-6422; phone 408/866-3000; fax 408/866-3008; URL: www.ortechnology.com .
NOTE: a:drive is a trademark of OR Technology Inc. All other brand or product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. |
